Carbon Offset – Top 3 Tips

EcoExpert Top Tips for Flying and Carbon Offsets

Flying is one of the worst methods of transportation for the environment.  Recognizing this, companies have sprung up, offering to offset the amount of carbon you have created by flying.  Like everything else, these offset companies have their pros and cons.

I’m being asked “If I fly, what should I do – offset or not?”

Offsets are great – but there are better options. Here are my Top Three suggestions, in order of preference:

• 1st Prize – Reduce your air travel
• 2nd Prize – Change Something
• 3rd Prize – Choose your offset wisely

1^st Prize: Reduce your Air Travel

Seriously consider if you genuinely need to fly.   For many individuals, flying makes up the vast majority of our carbon footprint.  Therefore, reducing or eliminating air travel has a significant benefit.

• Can you video- or tele-conference instead and save money and time?
• If your appointment is relatively close by, can you use an alternative way of getting there?  (For example, a flight from London to Edinburgh produces seven times the carbon emissions generated by the equivalent journey taken by rail).  Short-haul flights are particularly damaging.
• When considering flying versus other means of transport, remember to consider the long waiting times at airports.  If your flight would be just one hour long, add on the early check-in time, plus time waiting for your luggage afterwards.  It might not be much longer to take the train – plus it is normally more relaxing, and you get to see the landscape you pass through.
• Perhaps if you drive instead of flying, your spouse can come too
• Consider holidaying closer to home – you’ll save money too and probably be more relaxed without the stress of flying.
• Consider flying coach / economy instead of business or first class to reduce your footprint.  Many governments are insisting staff fly economy or coach as part of their country’s carbon reduction program.
• Many business people have said that if their employer forced them to fly coach / economy class, they would seriously look for ways to either avoid the flight, or find alternative methods to get there.   That’s an interesting thought!   Companies can save money and be green!

2^nd Prize – Change Something

There will be times when you have to fly.  If it is unavoidable, then make a change to your lifestyle – but make it NOW.  If you don’t make the change when you book the flight, you will probably forget about it.

Consider:

• Putting better insulation into your home (save money on heating and cooling)
• Collecting rainwater (if your local laws allow you to do so – some places forbid it!) in order to reduce your water use (and save money).
• Buying smart power strips for the electrical equipment in your home to further save energy
• Organizing a local litter pick-up
• Reducing the number of chemicals in your home by choosing eco-friendly products
• Reducing your consumption of bottled water and drinking tap water (filtered if necessary) instead
• If you are, for example, a public speaker, then you need that interaction with your audience, you have to be physically present.  If that involves a flight, then consider any or all of the above methods, but also consider donating part of your speakers’ fee to an environmental cause – and perhaps add $1 to the cost of each attendee’s ticket and donate that together with your own sum.  (And don’t just hand over the money blindly – find out about the cause and what they do, and why it is worthwhile).

But most of all, simply be more aware of how your daily choices impact the environment.

3^rd Prize: Choose Your Carbon Offset Wisely

If you absolutely have to fly, don’t wish to change your lifestyle, but are willing to offset some of the damage done by your flight(s), then buy carbon offsets.  Here’s how to make the best choices:

• Make sure an independent third party confirms the organization is delivering on the carbon reductions it promises.
• Find out if the project would occur regardless of funds from an offset project.  For example, if the government already mandates the program, then it would go ahead anyway.  Find worthwhile projects which depend upon your purchase of carbon offsets.

At the end of this article is a list of useful contacts in various countries.

Summary

Reduce your flying, invest in energy reduction methods in your home and make choices that are better for the environment, or buy carbon offsets.    But avoid doing nothing!

Useful Resources

Below are some useful contacts in various countries which might help you to get started – NOTE: this is not by any means a complete or rated list.

Spread the green word about carbon offsets (buttons below) – thank you! 

Useful contacts in the UK:

Carbon Neutral Company – for companies and businesses www.carbonneutral.com;

Climate Care – for companies and businesses https://www.climateimpact.com/business-solutions/

Friends of Conservation:  www.foc-uk.com;

The Travel Foundation www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk.

All the major British airlines also offer carbon offsetting options when you book with them.

Useful Contacts In the US:

The major US airlines, as well as some travel agents offer carbon offsetting when you purchase a plane ticket.

Sustainable Travel International http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/

Trees For The Future http://www.treesftf.org

The Carbon Fund – individuals AND businesses  www.carbonfund.org

Climate Care https://www.climateimpact.com/business-solutions/carbon-offsetting/

My Climate – individuals AND businesses: https://www.myclimate.org/en/

Useful Contacts In Canada:

ZeroFootprint for businesses:  www.zerofootprint

Useful Contacts in Australia:

Climate Friendly – for businesses http://www.climatefriendly.com

Or just Google   carbon offsets    plus the name of your country or region – for example, type carbon offsets dallas into a search.